China is urging all parties in Burma to exercise restraint after Burma's military rulers used violence to try to suppress pro-democracy protests.

China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a news conference Thursday China is very concerned about the situation in neighboring Burma. She said China hopes all parties in Burma properly handle the situation.

China has close economic relations with mineral-rich Burma and has provided its military with weapons.

Earlier Thursday, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs called on China to use its influence with Burma's military rulers to stop the violence.

Christopher Hill told reporters in Beijing that all countries, including China, need to agree that the Burmese government has to stop thinking its political problems can be solved with police and military action.

He said all countries should push the Burmese government to begin thinking about genuine national reconciliation.

On Wednesday, the United Nations Security Council urged Burma's military government to show restraint toward peaceful protesters and allow a visit by U.N. special envoy Ibrahim Gambari.

On the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, European Union and U.S. officials released a joint statement calling for an end to violence in Burma.

Separately this week, the United States announced new sanctions against Burma's generals, their supporters and families.

In France, President Nicolas Sarkozy joined other world leaders in condemning the Burmese military's violent suppression of dissent. He met with Burmese opposition politicians Wednesday, and later urged French firms, including oil giant Total, to refrain from making new investments in Burma.

But Russia, a veto-wielding permanent member of U.N. Security Council, called interference in Burma's internal affairs counterproductive.